How to Connect Apple TV to an Old Analog TV

I still have a couple of older analog televisions in my home. One of them is almost 20 years old. I have no intention of throwing them away since there is always a way to convert digital signals to analog and make the equipment work properly.

An Apple TV box will connect just fine to an older analog TV if you have the right equipment. You’ll need to convert the signal from digital to analog to make it work. Here’s how it’s done.

1. Verify that your TV has the standard 3 RCA CRT jacks. They will most likely be colored yellow, white and red.

Comments

Why in the world would anyone even want to do this? God, man, it”s a digital world, move on!!! Just because something is outdated and still functions doesn’t mean it has to be used. Recycle the damn tv.

Will this stream from an iPhone5 over my wifi? We have an older Sony analog tv and your article states Apple TV + converter box + RCA cables…I have all three…for composite. I am confused regarding where to power the use of the converter box you specified?

I was recently donated a large (I think 50″) tube tv with the red, white, and yellow plugs (no clue what the proper name is). Seeing as I’ve mostly been using my mac for the past decade, I would like to connect an Apple TV 3. I just wanted to make sure that this setup will allow me to stream my iTunes library and access Netflix over wifi.

It would be less expensive to just get a roku or wii console for the Netflix, but I think it would be worth the extra money if I could watch my iTunes library as I’ve copied all my old dvd’s to my external hard drive already.

I believe I read somewhere a while ago that hacks like this can’t stream Netflix. Can you confirm that it works in your case?

Much appreciated info that is 2013 update and have ordered converter
box. 2012 Apple TV ..HDMI cable to converter box then ,RCA composite
cable to my TV. Then reset Apple TV for old TV. The question is…what
powers the converter box ?? The cable with box …USB …(computer) to
converter box ? I will know when it arrives. Thanks for this page you put online for novice’s

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My name is Mitch Bartlett. I've been working in technology for over 20 years in a wide range of tech jobs from Tech Support to Software Testing. I started this site as a technical guide for myself and it has grown into what I hope is a useful reference for all.